New R500m fund launched to support spaza shops

QUALIFYING South African-born spaza shop owners have been urged to stop leasing out their properties to undocumented immigrants who run spaza shops in their communities.

- SIYABONGA SITHOLE

This comes as scores of eager spaza shop owners, hawkers, and ordinary Soweto residents came out in large numbers to hear the Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition Parks Tau, and Small Business and Development Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams unveil their joint R500 million Spaza Shop Support Fund during an event held at the Eyethu Shopping Centre in Soweto.

However, due to the size of the venue, scores of other Soweto residents were turned away with a promise that the two ministers would return to the township on another date.